Medications

Ace Inhibitors
Captopril (Capoten), Enalapril (Vasotec), Lisinopril (Zestril or Prinivil)
Ace Inhibitors are very effective in treating high blood pressure. They do this by reducing the pressure on your blood vessels by helping the arteries to relax and dilate. This allows for an easier pathway for the blood to get to your body.
Side Effects:  It may cause a skin rash; loss of taste; a chronic dry, hacking cough; and in rare instances, kidney damage.

Aspirin
HeartCare, Solprin, Disprin, Aspec, Cartia
Aspirin is used to prevent blood clots. It is used for most people with known coronary heart disease and for certain people who are at risk of coronary heart disease or stroke.

Side Effects: Include indigestion, nausea and vomiting. This may be helped by taking tablets with a special (enteric) coating. If you are allergic to aspirin you may be prescribed clopidogrel which prevents clots too. Check with your doctor what strength aspirin you should take.

Amiodarone
Aratac and Cordarone
Amiodarone is very effective in controlling disturbances of the heart rhythm
Side Effects:  Headaches, flushing, dizziness and stomach upsets. Regular blood tests are taken when you are prescribed Amiodarone. Amiodarone tends to make the skin sensitive to sunlight so it is important to use a high factor sunscreen and wear a hat.
Beta-blockers
Atenolol (Lo-Ten), Metoprolol (Lopresor, Betaloc), Sotalol (Sotacor), Carvedilol (Dilatrendm)

Beta-blockers reduce the workload of the heart by slowing the heart rate. These drugs are prescribed for people who are at risk of having angina attacks. They are also effective in lowering blood pressure and reducing the risk of heart attack with those who have already had a heart attack.
Side Effects Include: tiredness, dizziness, cold hands and feet.
Beta-blockers can affect your ability to drive, discuss this with your doctor.
Note: Beta-blockers should not be stopped suddenly without medical advice as coming off them too quickly can make your angina worse.

Calcium Channel Blockers
Nifedipine (Adalat), Amlodipine (Calvasc, Narvasc), Felodipine (Plendil ER or Felo ER), Diltiazem (Dilzem)

Calcium channel blockers help the arteries to relax. This allows the heart to receive an improved blood supply so the heart has to less work to pump enough blood around the body.
Different calcium channel blockers are used for different conditions.
Side Effects include: Flushing, headaches, ankle swelling, constipation, feeling unwell.
You must not stop taking calcium channel blockers  suddenly without medical advice.

* If you are taking either Nifedipine or Felodipine you should avoid grapefruit and its' juices as they heighten the effect of the medication.

Clopidogrel (Plavix)
Clopidogrel prevents clots forming on a stent.

Side effects include:  Rash and diarrhoea. Bleeding may take longer to stop. Report any unusual bleeding to your doctor.

Dabigatran (Pradaxa)

Dabigatran prevents the formation of blood clots. This type of medication is called an anti-coagulant or blood thinner.

Side effects: Bruising, tiredness, nosebleeds and headaches.

Tell your doctor immediately or go to your nearest Accident and Emergency Department if you notice any of the following:

• Chest pain
• Swelling of hands, ankles and feet
• Bleeding
• Red or dark brown urine
• Red or black bowel motions.

These are serious side effects. You may require urgent medical attention.

Digoxin (Lanoxin)
Digoxin slows the heart rate but does not restore the regular rhythm. It is prescribed for conditions such as atrial fibrillation and is used for controlling heart failure.
Side effects include: Weight loss, nausea, tiredness, headache, depression, arrhythmias, slow heart rate and visual disturbance. Regular blood tests will be required to check the level of this drug in your body.

Diuretics
Frusemide (Diurin), Frusemide and Amiloride Hydrochloride (Frumil), Bendrofluazide (Neo-naclex), Spironolactone (Spirotone)
Diuretics or water tablets increase the output of water and salt in the urine. They are particularly good in treating heart failure, a condition where the body holds too much water and salt.
Side effects include:  You may need to pass urine more frequently. If you are prescribed diuretics you should not have too much salt in your food as this counteracts the effects of the diuretics. Your blood pressure may be low.
You will need to have regular blood tests to check the level of some chemicals in your blood.
If you are diabetic, your blood sugar level may increase.
If you have gout, it may get worse.

Flecainide (Tambocor)
Flecainide controls serious heart rhythm disturbances.
Side effects include: Dizziness, visual disturbance, nausea, vomiting, headache, tiredness and a feeling of numbness in the mouth.

Nitrates
Isosorbide mononitrate (Ismo20, Corangin, Duride), Glyceryl Trinitrate (Lycinate, Glytrin Spray, Nitrolingual pumpspray)
Nitrates dilate the coronary arteries, so blood flow increases. They also reduce the heart rate and blood pressure as well as helping the heart rhythm.
Side effects include: Flushing, dizziness and headaches.

Statins
Simvastatin* (Lipex), Atorvastatin** (Lipitor)
Statins are prescribed in order to lower the amount of cholesterol in the blood, particularly the amount of LDL cholesterol. By reducing the amount of cholesterol in your blood, your risk of having a heart attack or stroke can be reduced.

Side effects include:  Before starting on a statin you will have a blood test to show how well your liver is working. This test will be repeated while you are taking the medication. Statins can cause liver and muscle damage in rare cases.

*If you are taking Simvastatin only have a limited amount of grapefruit juice.
**If you are taking Atorvastatin, avoid grapefruit juice completely.

Warfarin
Warfarin (Marevan, Coumadin)
Warfarin helps to prevent clots forming if you have a mechanical heart valve replacement or have an irregular heart rhythm like atrial fibrillation. Warfarin is also useful for treating clots in the veins of the legs (deep vein thrombosis).
Side effects include: Bleeding and stomach upset. Because the drug makes the blood thinner so it doesn’t clot so easily, you will need regular blood tests to check the clotting activity of the blood is within safe but effective levels.
Report any unusual bleeding to your doctor.

If you experience any side effects with any of your prescribed medications
DO NOT stop taking them.
Call your doctor and explain what you are experiencing.
There are many drugs within each group described above so your doctor is likely to be able to change your medication to suit you.
 

You may be prescribed other drugs which are not on the above list. You should discuss the drugs you have been prescribed with your doctor and pharmacist if you want more information about them.